Lot 1150

VICTOR GIRARDEY DESCRIBES 'THE CRATER' AND HIS PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL

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VICTOR GIRARDEY DESCRIBES 'THE CRATER' AND HIS PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Current Bid: $550

(2 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

VICTOR GIRARDEY DESCRIBES 'THE CRATER' AND HIS PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL
VICTOR J. B. GIRARDEY (1837-1864) Confederate officer who served as aide-de-camp to Albert Blanchard, fought with distinction at the Seven Days Battles, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and organized the counterattack of Mahone's division at the Battle of the Crater. Appointed a brigadier general by Lee in the field, but he was killed in action at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom before his promotion could be confirmed. Very rare, historic military content A.L.S. ‘Victor', 4pp. 8vo., [n.p.], Aug, 5, 1864, to his brother. Girardey writes five days following the Battle of the Crater and only eleven days before his death, in large part: ‘Since last I wrote you we have had another battle in which I had the honor to participate and escaped uninjured owing I suppose to the fact of having a very hard head a ball struck me plump on the head & strange to say did not injure, except making me quite weak & faint for a little while. You have heard of what part of our division has accomplished, only 3 Brigades retook the works held by two Yankee Corps & supported by another & slaughtered these like sheep. I never yet have seen so many Yankee dead on the same space of ground they acknowledge a loss of 5000 men. We captured about 1200 prisoners & 18 flags, our Division has done all the fighting for this Army at this point – since we have been here at Petersburg we have fought five (4) battles, and never had more than 3 Brigades engaged at any one time, we taken in these five battles alone, 19 pieces of Artillery, 29 stand of colors, about 5000 stand of small arms, & about 3700 prisoners 300 horses, 50 wagons & 30 ambulance, all this is exclusive of what we captured in the campaign before reaching this point – this is doing very well. You have in this heard of my promotion to Brigadier General, & at present in command of this Brigade – so you see I have at last gone up with a jump, & think I will stick [Girardey was a captain prior to this promotion]. What do you think of your little brother… If you can spare a little of your good old what you keep in your cellar, it would be very acceptable, & would no doubt add much to comfort – very hot & dry… [all sic]' He signs at the conclusion in pencil. Expertly inlaid, evenly toned, with a pencil accession inscription at the bottom of the final page, otherwise in fine condition.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000